Program Overview

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Certificate III in Sports Turf Management

Course Overview

Kick start your career in green-keeping with this trade course. This qualification is for people looking to enter into the sports turf industry, are employed as an apprentice, or need to have their skills recognised. This will set you up with the fundamental skills required to manage turf grass surfaces in a wide range of sports facilities.

According to the Australian Government's Job Outlook service, the number of people working as greenkeepers is growing strongly. They anticipate there will be around 14,000 job openings in this occupation over the next five years.

Students who undertake this course will learn about occupational health and safety, turf establishment and maintenance, irrigation systems, and operation of specialised machinery. You will also learn plant nutrition, pest management, construct turf playing surfaces, and environmentally sustainable work practices. The hands-on training provided will ensure you have job ready skills and practices to use from day one.

Successful completion of this course will give you the skills to either start a career within the industry or push your current career further.

What Can I Do?

• Greenkeeper

Course Outcome

AHC31324 Certificate III in Sports Turf Management

Specialised Equipment

Students who undertake this course will be given access to industry-standard specialised machinery and equipment.

Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s

The Queensland government is supporting young Queenslanders up to the age of 25 by providing access to fully subsidised training across a range of priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications.

What You Will Study

The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 5 elective units from the list below.

Core Units

• UNIT CODE: AHCCHM304
  • UNIT NAME: Transport and store chemicals
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely transport, handle and store liquid and dry chemical formulations across a broad range of industry sectors.
• UNIT CODE: AHCCHM307
  • UNIT NAME: Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely prepare and apply chemicals for the control of pests, weeds and diseases, using general application equipment.
• UNIT CODE: AHCDRG305
  • UNIT NAME: Install drainage systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare, coordinate, undertake and complete surface and subsurface drainage system installation.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG345
  • UNIT NAME: Install pressurised irrigation systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to organise resources, set out and prepare an irrigation installation site and install, commission and complete pressurised irrigation system installation.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG346
  • UNIT NAME: Operate pressurised irrigation systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to pre-start check, inspect, start up, operate, monitor and shut down pressurised irrigation systems.
• UNIT CODE: AHCIRG347
  • UNIT NAME: Maintain pressurised irrigation systems
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret a maintenance program, inspect and maintain pressurised irrigation systems, and record and report maintenance activities.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM304
  • UNIT NAME: Operate machinery and equipment
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate and maintain machinery and equipment.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM305
  • UNIT NAME: Implement a plant nutrition program
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a plant nutrition program, including preparing for the nutrition program, monitoring and controlling the nutritional requirements of plants, preparing fertilisers and application equipment, applying products to plants, and completing plant nutrition program activities.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPMG301
  • UNIT NAME: Control weeds
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and coordinate weed control activities using appropriate strategies to provide effective, economic control while minimising environmental damage.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPMG302
  • UNIT NAME: Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and assess the effect to plants of plant pests, diseases and disorders and plan and coordinate control measures.
• UNIT CODE: AHCSOL304
  • UNIT NAME: Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect and test soil samples for their physical and chemical characteristics and take corrective action to improve the soil for garden beds and turf areas.
• UNIT CODE: AHCTRF306
  • UNIT NAME: Prepare sports turf surfaces for play
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan, prepare the turf and mark out the sports surfaces ready for play, complying with the rules and regulations of the sport.
• UNIT CODE: AHCTRF307
  • UNIT NAME: Construct turf playing surfaces
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to construct the soil profile for the establishment of high-performance sports and recreational turf for new or complete renovation projects in sporting, commercial and public recreational spaces.
• UNIT CODE: AHCTRF308
  • UNIT NAME: Establish turf
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to establish turf by sowing, turf laying, sprigging and chaffing or stolonisation in sporting, public recreational open space, commercial and residential sites.
• UNIT CODE: AHCTRF310
  • UNIT NAME: Monitor turf health
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor the health and condition of sports turf playing surfaces.
• UNIT CODE: AHCTRF311
  • UNIT NAME: Renovate sports turf
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement renovation or remediation of a sports turf area for minor projects and seasonal renovations in the turf industry.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWHS302
  • UNIT NAME: Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to workplace health and safety procedures, including applying policies and procedures, assisting in hazard identification and risk control, and observing safe practices during work operations.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK320
  • UNIT NAME: Apply environmentally sustainable work practices
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply environmentally sustainable work practices.

Elective Units

• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM204
  • UNIT NAME: Undertake operational maintenance of machinery
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to undertake operational maintenance of machinery.
• UNIT CODE: AHCMOM213
  • UNIT NAME: Operate and maintain chainsaws
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely operate a hand-held chainsaw and maintain it in working condition.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM303
  • UNIT NAME: Identify plant specimens
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to inspect and describe the features and attributes of a plant for the purpose of plant identification and providing information to a client or organisation.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPCM306
  • UNIT NAME: Provide information on plants and their culture
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify client issues or requirements, identify the preferred solution, and provide information and solutions to clients.
• UNIT CODE: AHCPGD310
  • UNIT NAME: Implement a landscape maintenance program
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a landscape maintenance program, including interpreting the program requirements, and monitoring and maintaining landscape areas of newly constructed or established landscapes.
• UNIT CODE: AHCSOL406
  • UNIT NAME: Sample soils and interpret results
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for soil sampling, collect soil samples and interpret test results.
• UNIT CODE: AHCWRK317
  • UNIT NAME: Coordinate work site activities
  • Unit description: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to coordinate work site activities for small-scale projects.

Ways to Study

• Apprenticeships or traineeships

Study Locations

• Greater Brisbane
• North Queensland

Campus

• Grovely
• Townsville - Trade Training Centre Bohle

Payment Options

• Payment plan
• Upfront payment

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Resources Required

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

You will also be required to have access to and bring to class:

• a light long sleeved shirt
• protective footwear with safety toe cap and non-slip soles to AS2210
• safety glasses
• ear muffs or plugs
• a sun safe hat
• sunscreen
• secateurs
• rubber dishwashing gloves
• gardening gloves

You may also be required to have access to an 8m retractable tape measure and calculator for select units.

Assessment Methods

Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning.

University Pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfers

Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.